“Cargill and AeroFarms Join Forces to Revolutionize Cocoa Production with Vertical Farming Innovations”
Agribusiness behemoth Cargill has teamed up with AeroFarms, an indoor vertical farming innovator, aiming to enhance cocoa bean yields and cultivate more climate-resilient agricultural methods. This multiyear collaboration will enable both companies to leverage their respective areas of expertise; AeroFarms will contribute its knowledge in controlled environment agriculture, while Cargill will share insights on cocoa agronomy and production techniques. Together, they will explore indoor growing technologies, including aeroponics and hydroponics, and investigate factors such as light, carbon dioxide, irrigation, nutrition, plant spacing, and pruning to determine the ideal conditions for cocoa tree cultivation. The ultimate aim is to gather insights that could lead to accelerated tree growth, increased yields, and the development of cocoa varieties with improved pest and disease resistance, as well as enhanced flavor and color.
Niels Boetje, managing director of Cargill Cocoa Europe, emphasized the necessity of this partnership, stating, “We as a company don’t have all that knowledge. Cocoa demand is continuing to grow, and therefore, it is important for us to find new ways to increase productivity.” The cocoa and chocolate market is anticipated to exceed $67 billion by 2025, according to a 2020 report from Fortune Business Insights. Additionally, consumers are increasingly prioritizing sustainability and traceability in their purchasing decisions, often willing to pay a premium for such products.
Major chocolate manufacturers like Hershey, Mars, Nestlé, and Mondelēz have been making internal changes to address the environmental and economic challenges associated with cocoa production. For instance, in 2018, Hershey pledged a $500 million investment in cocoa sustainability initiatives in Ghana and Ivory Coast. Mars has committed to achieving a 100% sustainable supply chain and has collaborated with agricultural analytics firm Nature Source Improved Plants to accelerate the development of cacao varieties that yield more, resist diseases better, and offer higher quality. Similarly, Barry Callebaut has vowed to eliminate child labor from its supply chain, uplift half a million cocoa farmers from poverty, become carbon and forest positive, and ensure 100% sustainable ingredients by 2025. Olam also announced that it achieved 100% traceability in its cocoa sourcing last year, thanks to innovative technology.
David Rosenberg, co-founder and CEO of AeroFarms, noted that while this marks the company’s first venture into tree cultivation, it has experience with over 550 different crops, which will provide valuable insights for cocoa farming. He pointed out that vertical farming’s advantage lies in its ability to eliminate uncontrolled variables that often arise when crops are grown outdoors or in greenhouses, thus granting researchers greater control over growth conditions and genetic outcomes.
Regarding the financial aspects of the new agreement, both Rosenberg and Boetje refrained from commenting on whether Cargill is investing in AeroFarms. The two companies are already familiar with each other, having collaborated on another undisclosed project. Their work with cocoa trees has commenced at AeroFarms’ global headquarters in New Jersey, with plans to extend this initiative to a new indoor vertical farm in Abu Dhabi, set to open in 2022. Executives anticipate that it will take approximately 18 months to gather the necessary data for more in-depth experiments, and Boetje indicated that further expansion of their partnership could be on the horizon. “We’re continually looking at new opportunities to work together,” he stated.
Founded in 2004, AeroFarms has primarily been recognized for producing leafy greens like arugula, kale, and broccoli for retail. However, the company envisions its impact on agriculture as extending beyond the grocery aisle, aspiring to contribute to crops like cocoa to help them grow more efficiently, benefiting the farmers who cultivate them. “I didn’t start this company just to be a leafy green provider,” Rosenberg remarked. “I founded it to truly transform agriculture. What I’ve come to realize is that our greatest contribution lies in understanding what makes plants thrive.”
Cocoa production, predominantly sourced from Ivory Coast and Ghana in West Africa, has faced longstanding environmental issues and accusations of reliance on child labor, with companies not doing enough to eliminate these practices from their supply chains. Six former child slaves sued Nestlé and Cargill, claiming the companies were complicit in enabling slavery at cocoa farms in Ivory Coast; however, the U.S. Supreme Court dismissed the lawsuit in June. Boetje reiterated Cargill’s commitment to enhancing the resilience and sustainability of its supply chain for cocoa and chocolate products. “With this project, we genuinely hope to bring new insights and knowledge to fulfill that promise we have,” he asserted.
In parallel with these agricultural initiatives, the market has also seen a rising demand for supplements like calcium citrate, zinc, and vitamin D3 tablets, underscoring a broader trend towards health-conscious consumerism. The integration of such nutritional products alongside sustainable cocoa practices reflects a growing awareness of health and sustainability in today’s market.
